Gem or like settings in jewelry



Jan. 21, 1936. s JA 2,028,284

GEM OR LIKE SETTINGS IN JEWELRY Filed Sept. 28, 1934 11v vs TOR Sarah 'JQC/PSOH Patented Jan. 21, 1936 warren s'rara Application September 28, 1934, Serial No. 745,997

' In Great Britain September 28, 1933 3 Claims.

This invention relates to gem or like settings in jewelry, and it is to be understood that by gem I refer to any similar ornamental object, such as shapes of coloured glass, artificial pearls, or in fact anything of a like nature commonly used to adorn articles of jewelry such as finger rings, bracelets, necklaces or the like.

The invention has for its object to provide for some degree of interchangeability so that various gems may be attached to various pieces of jewelry readily. It will be appreciated that it may be extremely convenient for the gem of a ring, for example, to be readily changeable by the wearer so as to match some other piece of jewelry, or the colour of garments, etc.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists in the provision in articles of jewelry such as those above mentioned, of means whereby gems may readily be attached or detached. -Preferably the actual setting for av gem consists of opposed claws one of which forms part of the article of jewelry and the other of which is articulated so as to form a sort of retaining claw, means being provided for locking the same after its engagement with a gem. In an alternative form, preferably for cheap construction and possibly for use with rough-cut or uncut stones or the like, the actual setting consists of opposed claws which under resilient resistance may be urged towards each other, the movement preferably being arranged to take place by simple distortion or bending of the article of jewelry.

Figure 1 illustrates the invention as applied to a pin in perspective with a moving claw illustrated in an engaged position, and, in broken line, in the position where it is disengaged from the gem;

Figure 2 illustrates a finger ring with a setting permitting removal and replacement of a Figure 3 illustrates more or less diagrammatically a perspective view of an alternative cheap and simple construction; and

Figure 4 an alternative cheap and simple con struction.

In the pin of Figure 1 there is provided an ornamental stem portion I having towards one end a hook detent 2 for the actual hinged pin 3 which is pivoted at 4. Towards the other end of the part I is provided a setting base plate 5 preferably shaped so as to conform with a gem 6 as to outline. Claws l rigid with the base 5 are adapted to engage slightly over the edge of the gem 6 at two points, and a movable claw 8 is pivoted to the part i at 9 so as to be movable into or out of retaining engagement with the gem t at will. Two small lateral projections it from, the part 8 are adapted to be engaged and locked by a small wire catch shown at H passing through a suitable bore in the part i. It will be appreciated that this catch retains the moving claw 8 in the position for retaining the gem it until it is swung around its axis for disengagement, after which the claw 8 may be swung upwards so as to free the gem for detachability. Thus the gem may readily be of an interchangeable nature, whereby the appearance of the article of jewelry may be a matter of choice.

Figure 2 shows. a ring adapted for interchangeability of its gem. In this case the hoop ii of the ring supports a mounting in the form of a substantially rectangular frame It with inturned upper edges at It to engage: like a bezel two lugs 2t formed on the end of the part Iii remote from the pivot ll. Naturally any desired part of the setting may be chased, encrusted, or otherwise embellished.

Figure 3 shows a much simplified form of the device possibly applicable for sale to people who wish to be able to mount attractive stones, shells, or the like, for themselves. In this case the hoop part it forming the ring is discontinuous and has overlapping ends which are forked so that each has two branches 2!,the end of each branch being turned over as at ZIA to form a gem-engaging claw. One fork passes as it were between the branches of the other, and all that is required for the engagement or disengagement of the gem is a contractile pressure on the hoop l2, which is made sufficiently resilient for the purpose, so that the ends of the branches recede from one another; relaxation of the pressure causes them to approach one another again.

Figure 4 shows a further alternative in which the hoop part iii of a ring is interrupted, and each end carries a triangular mounting part 22 with an overturned upstanding flange 23 along two sides thereof, whereby the gem may be engaged and retained. As illustrated, this ring is suitable for rectangular stones or gems which are engageable simply by slightly spreading the two ends of the hoop l2, offering the gem within the flanges 23 and then allowing the ring to spring back.

What I claim is:

1. In an article of jewelry, a mounting comprising a body having walls defining a socket open at one side, the walls having inturned upper edge portions for overlapping margins of a gem placed in the socket, a latch pivotally mounted adjacent the open side of the socket, a movable wall pivotally mounted for movement into and out of closing relation to the open side of the socket and having an inwardly extending gem engaging portion, and lugs carried by the movable wall adjacentthe free end thereof for engagement by said latch to releasably hold the movable wall in a closed position.

2. In an article of jewelry, a mounting comprising a body having stationary walls defining a socket open at its top and at one side, a movable wall pivotally mounted at one end to one of the stationary walls for movement into and out of closing relation to the open side of the socket, and means for releasably holding the movable wall in a closed position.

3. An article of jewelry including a setting having a body formed with stationary walls defining a socket open at its top and at one side, a closure for the open side of the socket movably connected with a stationary wall for movement from a closed position to an open position in which it is disposed out of blocking relation to the open side of the socket, and means for releasably holding the closure in a closed position.

S. JACKSON. 

